Sakes that Are Perfect for Summertime<\/h1>\nSparkling Sake<\/h2>\n
No matter which brand you reach for, sparkling sake is for summer.\u00a0 Sparkling sakes are light, lower in alcohol, fruity, and fun.<\/strong>\u00a0 Niichiro Marumoto, the 6th<\/sup> generation president of the Marumoto Brewery<\/strong>, was a pioneer in the sparkling sake, launching HouHouShu<\/strong> in 2001.\u00a0 He saw the popularity of champagne and sparkling wine, grew concerned about sake\u2019s appeal to younger consumers, and experimented until he had a delicious, sparkling sake.\u00a0 Hou Hou (\u201cho ho\u201d like Santa says it) means \u201cbubble bubble.\u00a0 \u201cShu,\u201d pronounced like \u201cshoe,\u201d means \u201csake,\u201d as in \u201cgenshu,\u201d or undiluted sake.\u00a0 Hou Hou Shu is light, soft, fruity, and refreshing.\u00a0 While not sweet, per se, it is fruity and fun.\u00a0 Many drinkers compare its refreshing taste to peach yogurt or cream soda.<\/p>\n Years after launching the HouHouShu blue, Marumoto-san introduced Hana HouHou Shu<\/strong>, a rose sparkling sake.\u00a0 \u201cHana\u201d means \u201cflower,\u201d reflecting the addition of rose hip and hibiscus to the brew.\u00a0 Rose hip makes the sake dry, while hibiscus makes it pink. Consumers describe notes of cranberry and cherry.<\/p>\n Both Hana HouHouShu and HouHouShu should be served chilled, on their own, or with a squeeze of lemon in the blue or a creative garnish like candied ginger.\u00a0 Both are only 5% ABV, which makes them very drinkable.<\/p>\n Sparkling Sake to Look for:<\/em><\/span> Flavored sake is another great summer option. Japan has many indigenous fruits and a history of macerating these fruits in sake. However, only in recent years have high quality, fruit-infused sakes made it to the U.S. market<\/strong>. Japan\u2019s indigenous citrus, Yuzu, has caught on with mixologists and consumers alike. Ume, Japanese plum, is so ingrained in Japanese food culture that many Japanese have home macerations of ume in sake. Restaurants make their own infusions, too. However, certain prefectures like Wakayama are known for ume like some are known for yuzu. These regions have been top producers of real plum sake, umeshu. Japanese consumers pay a premium for these products.<\/p>\n Joto Yuzu, 8% ABV, made by the Imaoka Brewery in Shimane is bursting with fresh, citrus flavor. It is made using a natural maceration. So is Joto Umeshu, which will be released in the fall.<\/p>\n Flavored Sake to Look for:<\/em><\/span> Whether you heard it from Ella Fitzgerald or Sublime, summertime living is easy. Now you can make it even easier with a refreshing sake on hand. Over the last several years, innovative sake makers have been diversifying their offerings to appeal to younger drinkers, compete with cocktails, and capitalize on the Japanese love and commercialization<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":2590,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[92,76,77],"tags":[78],"class_list":{"0":"post-2572","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sake","8":"category-spirits-sake","9":"category-what-to-drink-right-now","10":"tag-sake"},"yoast_head":"\n![\"Hou](\"https:\/\/wine365.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hou_sparkling_btl-117x300.jpg\")
<\/em><\/p>\n![\"Hou](\"https:\/\/wine365.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hou_rose_sparkling_btl-119x300.jpg\")
<\/em><\/p>\n
\nMarumoto Hou Hou Shu \u201cBlue Clouds\u201d<\/em>
\nMarumoto Hou Hou Shu<\/em><\/p>\nFlavored Sake<\/h2>\n
![\"Joto](\"https:\/\/wine365.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/jto_yuzu_citrus_btl-83x300.jpg\")
<\/em><\/p>\n
\nJoto Sake Yuzu \u201cThe Citrus One\u201d<\/em>
\nJoto Sake Umeshu (coming Fall 2020)<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"